The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-02-12

Blll pdnJcu eagerly vi, hOM CIutl-noN
wicked it isl And Lee-Mr. Gilbert-such
a noble, good man! 1t is dreadful How
can Miss Ellis do such thingP L"
Nell stopped short in confusion, the red
blood surging all over her pearly face, for
there in the open doorway of the sewing
room stood lady.
A tall, dusky-eyed woman with super
cilious face. She was elegantly attired and
her large eyes swept the little room with a
glance of scorn.
1t was the sewing-room attached to
Madame Dupont's fashionable dressmak-
ing establishment, and Miss Ellis had called
to give an order.
Madame Dupont was at her side, her face
covered with bsequious-fawning
! A silence fell upon the inmates of the
apartment, while smile of contempt stole
over Miss Ellis face.
4"When these-ah-persons have finished
crticising my affairs"-she began frigidly
-'T will be glad to see how my work is
progressing"
Madame Dupont turned an angry face
upon the two culprits, then smiles chased
the frown away as she hustled into the
room, wheeled an easy chair forward for
her rich customer, and straightway there
followed a long conversation upon the
merits of the different materials, modes of
trimming, etc.
Then the 'fitting' process was gone
Though; and, at last, after two long hours
monopoly of the room and the time of the
sewing women, Miss Ellis announced her
intention to depart.
When the door had closed behind her
Miss Flint turned to Nell. ,e... g..
"We're in for lecture suren' she said
in low tone, 81 saw it in madame's
eyes!'
! And right there madame's voice broke
ina thin vinegary voice it was when ad
dressing her employes-and madame's lit
tie, oyer-dressed figure appeared before the
culprits.
80! YOU two pass your time in COM
ments upon my customersp' she sneered.
''Do you forget that Miss Ellis is the
daughter of rich man and is going to-
marry a millionaire? What do you mean by
offending rich lady like Miss Ellis? Pm
surprised at you, Miss Flint"
Miss Flint bit off her thread with vici-
Gus snap of her teeth.
"Tm sorry If I've offended you. mad
ameF' she made answer; "but meant no
offense to Miss Ellis!'It was all my fault
too, not Nells, for L introduced the sub
jcctp
Madame's penciled brows contracted into
a frown.
Il can't help that!' she retorted; "Miss
Ellis is offended, and she asked mel
mean I-well, the long and short of it is
that Nell Leighton s.discharged from my
employ! don't want any sewing girls who
attend to other peoples affairs, and make
my sewing room a gossiping club!'
Nell's work had fallen from her tremb-
ling hands. There was wild light in her
beautiful brown eyes, ,and she was trembling
like leaf
"Dschargedr' she repeated, and her
voice sounded like a wall. "Indeed, mad
anne, meant no harm-belieye me! Oh,
do not send Inc away, for how can l live
without employment? And who will pro-
vide for my poor sick father?"
A cold, cruel light stole into madame's S
hard eyes.
81 can't help that!' she sneered. "You
must learn to hold your tongue about other
peoples affairs. 1t may prove good les
son to you! Here is your money; when the
days work is done-gor
The girl bowed her golden head over the
intricate embroidery.
Miss Flint's face was like rock, so hard
and unyieldng its expression.
"Nellr' she whispered, as soon as they
were alone, 81 shall discharge myself and
leave when you do. It's shame to make
you suffer alone, for what is really my
fault! And, Nell, it's all that hateful Ellis
woman's doings! overheard her, out in
the hall, tell madame that If she desires
her future patronage she must get rid of
that impertinent girl. Never mind, Nell,
I'll go too; and the day will come when
Madame Dupont will regret her injusticer p
But Nell begged and entreated SO earnest
ly that Miss Flint would not give up her
situation, for she was very poor, that finally
the little old maid consented TO remain
The day wore away-Nelrs last day at
Madame Dupont's.
'My last day as a sewing girl" she said
with half smile that ended in a sigh, as
she arose and began to fold up the surah
polonaise upon which they had both been
working.
And Nell did not dream how true her
words were destined 10 become. She was
all alone in the room, it happened; or does
anything ever happen? Is it not that Gods 5
providence directs even our smallest ac-
tions? But as Nell folded the garment,
which had been lying tossed carelessly over
the back of a chair since Miss Ellis had
submitted to the trying-on process, scrap
Of paper fluttered from amid the volumin-
ous drapery and fell to the floor. Nell
picked 1t up, wondering vaguely how it
came there, when her eyes fell upon these
words written upon the paper:
80, my dear Harry, it is all settled.
= Won't Gilbert be furious though, when he
finds out that lie has been duped? But !
have loved you too long, and the sight of
YOU after all these months Of separation
brought back old times too vividly. So l
have consented to marry you secretly. Let
! Lee Gilbert console himself elsewhere. 1t
will not be difiicnlt, fancy; for he has
really belieye-ne'er forgotten that Leigh
ton girl with whom lie once fell in love.
5 You've heard of the LeightOns, and the big
financial crash which made paupers of
/ them? Well-let him"